I Serve my Nation of Haven (Honorverse, G, gen)

[extrapenguin]

Title: I Serve my Nation of Haven
Rating: G
Wordcount: 269
Summary: A sestina from Thomas Theisman's point of view, set shortly after Ransom departs with the Tepes.

I serve my nation of Haven
Whose leaders leak away its honor
Whose guardians stay only of duty
Trapped by Commissioners in a shipboard prison
Spreading outwards, star to star
Does this truly serve the people?

The Legislaturalists were removed by people
Working for the best of Haven
The planet orbits around its star
Caring not for mortal honor
Nor for becoming the people's prison
I fight for Pierre because of duty

Loyalty should outrank duty
But I have no loyalty to those people
Who run my nation as a prison
Even if its very name is Haven
Even if they eat its honor
While it goes around its star

The orders are to invade each star
Of Manticore; obey your duty,
“There is no need for you to fear Honor
Harrington, for even she must fear the people!”
Tourville succeeds, she surrenders to Haven
Ransom interferes – executed, not sent to prison

Is Camp Charon truly a worse prison
Than what we all face beneath our star?
The planet of Enki is a part of Haven
Would I defend it if it weren't my duty?
Ransom claims to serve the people
Yet unwisely spends all their honor

After they're done I'll have no honor
Left; my mind will be my prison
Horrors are done in the name of the People
By those who wouldn't delight in a single star
I won't leave for I still have my duty
To serve the People's Republic of Haven

I know not the people of my Star
Nation; yet I know its honor is held in prison
I know my duty to Haven.